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It's that time of year again, and with the snapshot of sunshine we had a few days ago, many Brits will be making plans to take to the roads this weekend. The bank holiday is notorious for having a high number of drivers taking to the motorway to enjoy the long weekend with their family, friends or just somewhere a little different than home.

However, the last thing you want, especially with the large amount of people hitting the road in a few hours, is to have something that makes being stuck in traffic even worse. Forgetting to do some of the smallest preparation checks can turn your relaxing long weekend into an absolute nightmare.
There are a number of things that are just plain schoolboy errors if you forget to do them before you get behind the wheel. All of our tips take a matter of minutes to carry out and will save you hours of time should something bad happen to your car on the motorway.

Check your car
You know this, I know you know this, but so many people dismiss checking their car before they leave. But don't. It takes half an hour tops to give your model a once-over to make sure it is fit for the road and your journey ahead. This should include checking your tyre pressure, filling up your oil and windscreen washer fluid, and also make sure that your licence plate and windows are clear enough to see.

You should also check that you have your driving licence in your wallet and that your insurance and MOT are valid, and that you have the details with you or they are at least accessible. This will take a small amount of time but will ensure your bank holiday doesn't turn into a disaster.

Prepare for the journey ahead
This can be everything from charging up your satnav, to packing a map, to having a look at the traffic before you leave. These can all help your journey go as smooth as possible and ensure that the driver doesn't get too stressed behind the wheel, which isn't good for anyone. You should also make sure that your tank is full of petrol or diesel. Petrol stations on the motorway can be expensive and you never know when the next one is coming, so it's best for you to get some before you start your journey.

Avoid chaos
In order to make sure your car journey goes as well as possible, make sure you tune into local radio to keep you safely up to date with all traffic changes. This can help you re-plan your route to avoid being stuck in traffic for hours should there be an accident or road works.

If you have kids, you should also plan something to keep them entertained. This can be anything from in-car games or putting an audio book on for them to listen to. It's also a good idea to take regular stops to allow the driver to take a break, and your children to get out of the car and get some fresh air.